Massachusetts’ Congressional Delegation Not Yet on Board with Warren 2020

She’s earned the backing of three Massachusetts congresspersons and her fellow senator, but other 2020 candidates have locked up their entire delegation – why not Warren?

By NTK Staff | 02.27.2019 @10:26am

Though she’s only been a candidate officially for a few weeks, the early days of the 2020 Democratic primary have been rough for Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA).

Comparatively to other candidates, Warren has struggled to break through in any state-specific or national polls, which continue to be dominated by former Vice President Joe Biden and Warren’s neighbor to the north, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT). Most polls show her Senate colleague, Kamala Harris (D-CA), ahead of her as well.

And while this is not necessarily a problem unique to Warren, Sanders blew the entire field out of the water with his first-day fundraising haul, bringing in $5.9 million compared to Warren’s $300,000. Further fundraising numbers won’t be known for some time, but it’s safe to say the top dogs will have an easier time raking in campaign contributions than those languishing at the bottom of the polls.

And in the endorsement game, Warren finds herself behind, yet again. Somewhat inexplicably, the Massachusetts Democrats has been unable to win over a majority of her state’s congressional delegation.

While she’s earned the support of Sen. Ed Markey as well as Reps. Joe Kennedy III, Lori Trahan, and Jim McGovern, she’s failed to win over the rest. That list includes: Reps. Richard Neal, Katherin Clark, Ayanna Pressley, Stephen Lynch, and William Keating. Rep. Seth Moulton has also declined to endorse, but he may become a 2020 candidate himself.

Meanwhile, Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) announced he had the backing of the entire New Jersey Democrat congressional delegation. The same is true for Sanders in Vermont, although he represents a much smaller state than either Massachusetts or New Jersey.

Other candidates from larger states, like Kamala Harris in California and Kirsten Gillibrand in New York, have not scored majorities yet either, but they have much steeper hills to climb.

It’s too early to tell if this will become a lingering problem for Warren, or if it’s just another item in a long list of troubles plaguing her fledgling campaign.